Tailgating is dangerous, and it’s one of the first things a driving instructor will tell someone not to do. Drivers should always maintain a proper gap between their vehicles, which should usually be around three seconds.
Even so, tailgating is very common. You may experience it every time you drive on your morning commute to the office. But if tailgating is illegal and dangerous, what are some of the reasons that people keep doing it?
They don’t know any better
In some cases, it’s just the drivers honestly don’t know what tailgating looks like. They think they do have a big enough gap. Some people get so used to tailgating that they begin to think it’s normal. You can see how dangerous their actions are when their car is close to your rear bumper, but they have no idea.
They are in a hurry
Of course, one of the top reasons for tailgating is that the rear driver is in a hurry and the front driver is going slowly. They are tailgating in an effort to get the other driver to speed up. They do know that it’s dangerous, but they are letting this schedule-based stress get the best of them.
They are angry
Finally, there are situations where tailgating is an expression of road rage. If a driver thinks that someone else cut them off, for instance, they may tailgate that driver to show their displeasure. This type of aggressive driving is very dangerous.
Have you been injured?
No matter why someone tailgates you, if they cause an accident, you may be the one who suffers serious injuries. Take the time to carefully look into the legal options you have to seek compensation.